title: Monolateral visual loss due to cryptococcal meningitis.
abstract: A case of retrobulbar monolateral optic neuritis due to disseminated Cryptococcosis in a 32-year-old man with a new diagnosis of AIDS is described in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The patient presented a monolateral rapid visual loss on day 7 of a liposomal amphotericin B treatment. Neuroradiological imaging showed the presence of retrobulbar neuritis. After starting ART and intravenous metilprednisolone 1 g daily for 3 days, we assisted to a progressive improvement of visual acuity. At 3 months of follow-up, complete clinical resolution was obtained. In this case, in the presence of effective antiretroviral and antifungal treatment, a short course of metilprednisolone was a safe therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases "Santa Maria della Misericordia" Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia Italy, giuseppedesocio@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Vittorio Luigi
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: De Socio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Menduno
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pitzurra
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldelli
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness; D003453:Cryptococcosis; D006801:Humans; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents